Have to replace pinion seal.....

First.... what is the best (or acceptable) way for a shade tree mechanic to remove a pinion nut from the 8 3/4 489 diff -and how can I keep the pinion yoke (?-not flat flange) from moving?

Second.... best (or acceptable) way to remove pinion yoke.

Third... If I put a socket and breaker bar on the nut -wheels on the ground and parking brake on -and turn the pinion as if in drive/forward then as if in reverse, how should it act?
Should there be any play? I can wiggle it forward and reverse (not in and out) just a tad by hand, but with the socket and bar I am hearing a lot of things going on in there between forward and reverse before movement stops -I'm a newb and don't know what is normal


I heard someone say the parking brake can be used as resistance while removing pinion nut -but that sounds hinky.

 

Hello!

First: Socket/breaker bar on nut and a pry bar to hold flange in place
Second: pinion stays, with puller take off flange, remove seal and replace
Third: I highly recommend getting a repair manual, there are small steps also, like counting number of threads on pinion before removing the nut

Good luck, john

 

thanks! i totally forgot to check my TWO repair manuals -duh